The Life of Christina of Markyate: A Twelfth Century Recluse

The Life of Christina of Markyate, a twelfth-century English recluse and later abbess of Markyate, near St A1bans, is a remarkable example of late medieval hagiography. Originally written at the time of or soon after Christina's death in the twelfth century, the Life is unusual both in its relative lack of miracles, and in the unknown author's decision to write Christina's life factually rather than gathering together stock elements from previously written saint's lives, as was the custom. First published in 1959, this edition contains the original Latin text with a facing-page English translation. It is accompanied by a comprehensive introduction that discusses the codicological problems of the text, and provides other contextual and background material.